Diabetes Prevention Program

A change for life

If you have prediabetes or other risk factors for type 2 diabetes, now is the time to take charge of your health and make a change.

What is the Diabetes Prevention Program?

The Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a program where participants learn: how to eat healthy, add physical activity to their routine, manage stress, stay motivated and solve problems that can get in the way of healthy changes; all in the effort of preventing type 2 diabetes. It is proven to help people with prediabetes prevent or delay development of type 2 diabetes.

What is prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a blood glucose (sugar) level that is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. One in three American adults has prediabetes, and most do not even know they have it. If you have prediabetes and do not lose weight or do moderate physical activity, you can develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years.

Are you at risk?

One in three American adults has prediabetes and even more are at risk! People with prediabetes - higher-than-normal blood glucose (sugar) levels - are 5 to 15 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with normal blood glucose levels. In fact, many people with prediabetes can be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within 5 years. Risk factors for prediabetes include:

Being physically active less than 3 times a week
Being 45 years or older
Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes

Being overweight, BMI of 25 or higher
Having hypertension or high blood pressure
Having gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or a 9 pound (or more) baby

It’s important to talk to your provider about getting your blood sugar tested if you have any of the risk factors for prediabetes. Are you at risk for prediabetes? Take the risk assessment now to find out »

What can I expect?

By improving food choices and increasing physical activity, you can lose 5 to 7 percent of your body weight — that is 10 to 14 pounds for a person weighing 200 pounds. If you have prediabetes, these lifestyle changes can cut your risk of developing type 2 diabetes in half.

The Diabetes Prevention Program is a year-long program with weekly meetings for the first 6 months, then meetings once or twice a month for the second 6 months to help you maintain your healthy lifestyle changes. By meeting with others who have prediabetes you can celebrate each other’s successes and work together to overcome obstacles.

Testimonials

Listen to the following stories on how the Diabetes Prevention Program has helped people prevent diabetes.

Beaumont Patient Stories

Postal worker’s lifestyle changes keep type 2 diabetes at bay

Diabetes prevention program yields life-changing results

How to register

The Diabetes Prevention Program is offered virtually and in-person at Beaumont Health. The program is offered at no cost to those who qualify for the program. You must be at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes.